Automatic score registering ball target



April 28, 1953 5. J. PRESTON 2,636,739

AUTOMATIC SCORE REGISTERING BALL TARGET Filed Aug. 27, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 SAMUEL J. PRESTON INVENTOR.

Maw

ATTORNEY April 1953 5. J. PRESTON 2,636,739

AUTOMATIC SdORE REGISTERING BALL TARGET Filed Aug. 27, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 F|G.4 FIGS SAMUEL J- PRESTON INVENTOR.

BMW

ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 28, 1953 AUTOMATIC SCORE REGISTERING BALL TARGET Samuel Jacob Preston, Hillside, N. J. Application August 27, 1951, Serial N0. 243,869

This invention relates to improvements in games of skill and more particularly to a game of the target type which utilizes rebounding balls as the missiles, and the main object of this invention is to provide a game apparatus which will provide amusement, exercise and which will re- :quire skill and accuracy.

An object of this invention resides in the construction of a portable game having means for automatically recording the number of times each 'player hits a pivotally mounted target, which operates a recorder mounted for intermittent reciprocations at the rear of a planar rebounding member.

Another object of this invention is to provide a vertically movable indicia carrier having a series of upright ratchet teeth, and to provide a bracket secured to the rearsurface of the planar member, the bracket being designed to engage one of the ratchet teeth, the vertically movable carrier being pivotally mounted at its upper elevation so that the carrier is swung away from the bracket every time the'target is struck and the carrier makes a one-step movement in a downward direction.

Another object of this invention is to secure indicia at the lower end of the carrier member, "the indicia being visible at the front and lower edge portion of the planar member, the indicia being arranged in a vertical linear series with the lowest number at the lowest level of the indicia carrier, the arrangement being such that as a player operates the game device and strikes the target a number of times, the increased score or greater indicia number becomes visible to the obin which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the automatic score registering ball game.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 in Figure 1 and showing the normal position of the target being struck by the ball.

Figure 3 is a view similar to that shown in Figure 2, and showing a ball at the moment of striking the target.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figures 2- and 3 5 Claims. (Cl. 273-1021) 2 and showing the target returned to normal upright position. v

Figure 5 is a rear view of a fragmentary portion of the apparatus.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 66 in Figure 2. t

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line -1-'I in Figure 2.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the numeral It) indicates a portable game of the target type, comprising a planar rebounding member H which is held in an upright vertical position by means of two end pieces or legs I2 which rest on a floor or. table.

The lower surface l3 of the planar rebounding member II is raised a substantial distance from the floor or table to provide a vision aperture 14. At the central portion of the planar rebounding member II is a target aperture I5 in which a target I6 is supported on a suitable hinge I! and adapted to move rearwardly when struck by a ball or the like. The front face l8 of the target l6 preferably lies in the same plane as the front face of the planar rebounding member I I when in its normal non-operating position.

An elongated indiciacarrier 2| has a through ,slot 22 at one end. The slot 22 is preferably of wavy form and of a width to permit a pin 23 .to pass therethrough at different positions along its length. The pin 23 is supported by passing through two arms 24 of a bracket 25 which is se cured to the planar member II by a rivet 26.

, The indicia carrier 2| has angular ratchet teeth 21 facing the rear face 28 of the planar mem- .-ber l l.

A bracket 30 is secured to the rear surface 28 of the planar member II by a rivet 3| below the target aperture l5. The bracket 30 has a slot .32 providing a guideway for the carrier 2!, permitting downward movement of the carrier.

A loop-shaped member has arms 3&1 pivotally mounted in upright lugs 31 extending downwardly from the bracket 30. The member 35 swings downwardly into contact with the rear edge 38 of the carrier 2I and acts as weight which urges the carrier to move toward the planar member and causes one of the ratchet teeth 21 to engage the bracket 30 (Figure 2). i

The target I6 has an integral extension 4|] secured by a rivet 4| to the rear surface 42 of the target. The extension serves as a pawl for actuating the ratchet mechanism as will be described.

At the lower endportion of the elongated car- 'rier 2| is a hook 45 serving to receive and support 3 a planar indicia card 46 by means of an elongated aperture 41 in the card. Printed on the card 46 are suitable indicia numbers 48 indicating score values.

In operation, when a ball 50 strikes the target 16, the target is swung rearwards of the planar member and causes the extension 40 to strike the indicia carrier 2| and moves it so that the engaging tootlitzoftheiseti ofcratchettteeth 21 is: thrown out of engagement w-ith the bracket 30 This-re;- lease of tooth engagement is accompanied by upward movement of the pivotal weight 35 (Pigeure 3) The carrier 2| is then free to movein" a downsward direction but limited to only one tooth dis?- tance because of the pivotal weight;- 35%;. which;

time:element.for-: the weightt3fiztoi swing: the.in;- 1..

diciai carrier: toward the. rebounding. member H, sw that the"; successive higher tooth engages the bracket 30;: andztheind-icia carrier comes to a stop. This arrangement; prevents. skipping of. a successivetooth and: assures a. correct score.

al'soz to; besnotedi that while; I have shown at vision apertures below the lower edger ofi the planar rebounding: member; that, I may reverse themovements of. the; indicia: carrier: so: that. it

will moveupwardly or sideways; etc:,.bu.t. in. all

cases the successive; score: must appear: to view from: concealment.

In accordance with thepatentzstatutes I have described? and illustrated? the preferred.- embodiment ofmy invention; but it'will be understood that various changes and modifications can: be made therein without departingfrom the spirit of the invention as defined by the. appended claims:

I: claim:

1., In agame' apparatus of" the class described, a. rebounding member supported with its. lower edge in raised position" above a supporting surface, said" rebounding member having a central aperture a target member hingedly mountedi in r said aperture at its upper elevation. and being swingable. rearwardly of said rebounding member whenstruck'at its front face; an indicia carrier having? upright. ratchet teeth and being pivotally mounted at its upper elevation r-earwardly of said" rebounding member, a bracket". secured to the rear surface of" said rebounding. member and positioned to engageoneof said: teeth, sai'd target having an extensionrearwardly. thereof adapted to swing said indicia. carrier" rearwardly and away from said bracket. to. permit one: tooth movement in a downward; direction; of. said indicia carrier, said indiciac'arnier' being eccentrically loaded to:- causeit: to; swing; toward said rebounding member and: into engagement wi tlr said. bracket after: one. tooth downward movement at said indicia member; is: completed.

2. In a game apparatus of the class described, a planar: rebounding member mounted?v on a; supporting, surface-3. saidi planar" reboundingjmember having a target aperture and a vision aperture, a target member hingedly mounted in said target aperture at its upper elevation and being swingable rearwardly of said planar member when struck at its front face, an elongated indicia carrier having upright ratchet teeth facing the rear face of said planar member and being pivotally mounted at its upper elevation rearwardly of saidiplanarmember; a: SlOtliE'dibl'BiCkGl? secured toit'hee rean surface of. said. planar member for joint pivotal and upright downward movement, aiweight pivotally mounted on said rebounding planar member and contacting the rear edge of said indicia: carrier to cause said carrier to engage one of said teeth, said target having an extensibnrearwardly thereof adapted to swing said. carrier. rearwardly and out of contact with said bracketto" permit one tooth movement in a downward direction of said indicia carrier, said indicia carrier being swung by said weight towardsaidplanar member. andlinto. engagement with. said. bracket. after, one. tooth. downward movement. of)? said indicia. member is completed, said. indicia. being, visible through said; vision aperture.

3. In a... game; apparatus ofithe. class. described, a planar rebounding member. mounted'ona supporting. suriaca, saidv planar. rebounding, memher having, a. target aperture. and a vision. aperture', a. target; member hingedly. monnted'. insaid target aperture. at. itsv upper. elevation. and. be.- ing swingabl'e, rear-wardly. 011 said. planar member. when. struck at. its. front, face. any elongated indicia carrier having upright ratchet teethand being, pivotally. mounted at its upper. elevation rearwardly. of sai'dl planar. member, a. slotted bracket securedto therean surfaceofsaidlplanar member, .a.weightpivotally mounted on said. re,- boundihg; planar. member andlcontacting, the rear edge ofsaid. indicia. carrier to cause. said carrier to. engage one: of. said. teetlr. said targetl havin an extensionrearwardly thereof adapted. toswing said carrier. rearwardly and. out. of. contact. with said bracket. to. permit one. tooth. movement. in a downward direction of'said'indici'a carriers. said indicia, carrier. being swung. by said" weight. toward. said. planar. member. and". into.- engagement with: said bracketv afterv one tooth downward movement of. said indicia member completed, said. indiciabeing; visible. through. said. vision aperture...

4.. Ina. game apparatus of. the. classdescribed, a. planar rebounding. member having, means. fbr mounting on. a supporting; surface., said planar rebounding; member having a. target. aperture a target member hingedly mounted in said. target aperture and being swingable rearwardly of said planar member. when. struck at its. front face a slotted indicia.- carrier having, teeth. facing, the rear. face.- 02 said. planar. member: and. being. pivotalliy mounted. rearwardly of. saidiplanar mem: her, a slotted bracket.securedtdthe rear. surface 05 saidplanar member below. saiditargetaperture, said. bracket. providing, av guideway for. said. car- 111611 and. permitting, downward movement. of. said carrier, a weight pivotally mounted onsaidreabounding planar member and. contacting, therear edge of said carrier to-cause: attoothiofsaidzcarr rier to. engage-said.bracketsaidtargethaving an extension rearwardly thereof. adapted; to swin said carrier rearwardly and outoi contact. With said bracket to permit. one; tooth. movement in a downward directiore 013 said indicia. carrier,- said indicia carrier being swung by said. weight towardisaidrplanar. member with another. tooth into engagement with said bracket after one tooth downward movement of said indicia member is completed, said indicia being visible to an observer in increments.

5. In a game apparatus operated by rebounding balls, a planar rebounding member having a target aperture and means for mounting on a supporting surface, said planar rebounding member having a target member hingedly mounted thereon when struck at its front face, an indicia carrier having upright ratchet teeth and being pivotally mounted at its upper elevation rearwardly of said rebounding member, said indicia carrier having a planar indicia member supported at its lower end, said indicia member being movable in a generally vertical direction, a bracket secured to the rear surface of said rebounding member and positioned to engage one of said teeth, said target having an extension rearwardly thereof adapted to swing said indicia carrier rearwardly and away from said bracket to permit one tooth movement in a downward direction of said indicia carrier, said indicia carrier being eccentrically loaded to cause it to swing toward said rebounding member and into engagement with said bracket after one tooth downward movement of said indicia member is completed.

SAMUEL JACOB PRESTON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,161,171 Vertunni Nov. 23, 1915 1,750,945 Tratsch Mar. 18, 1930 2,171,295 Shultz Aug. 29, 1939 2,500,960 Reardon Mar. 21, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 18,934 Great Britain 1908 

